-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Nine civilians died in an attack on a luxury hotel in the Afghan capital , a government official said Friday .

The dead were a mix of Afghans and foreigners , children and adults , according to Gen Mohammad Ayoub Salangi the deputy interior minister . Six people were also injured .

The incident began when four teenagers entered the Serena Hotel in central Kabul on Thursday and started shooting randomly , police said .

Afghan security forces killed the four gunmen , who police said were all under 18 and were `` government opponents . ''

Police said they believe the gunmen entered the hotel by smuggling small pistols in their shoes , then hid in the bathroom for several hours before launching their attack .

The hotel also was the site of a shooting , in January 2008 , that killed seven people . The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack .

This is latest attack to claim the lives of foreigners in the Afghan capital . Earlier this month , gunmen shot and killed a Swedish journalist in broad daylight . In January , a bomb and gun attack by the Taliban on a restaurant in Kabul killed 21 people , most of them foreigners .

Earlier , in eastern Afghanistan , Taliban militants stormed a police station in Jalalabad , and a deadly gunbattle ensued , the country 's Interior Ministry said .

At least 11 people were killed and 22 were injured at the station , and at least six attackers were killed , according to a doctor at the hospital .

This came as the militant group threatened to carry out attacks before next month 's presidential election .

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed the action to CNN . He said fighters will `` continue to attack the pro-U.S. Afghan establishment . ''

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Journalists Zahir Shah Sherazi in Peshawar , Pakistan , and Qadir Sediqui in Kabul contributed to this report .

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NEW : Foreigners also died in attacks earlier this month and in January

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The nine dead are civlians -- a mix of Afghans and foreigners

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Four gunmen shot dead by security forces in Kabul hotel attack

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Gunmen were all under 18 and considered `` government opponents ''